Lindsey Vonn well being replace as hospital ‘cannot deal with her wants’ after Olympics crash
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after a horror crash in the women’s downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics, with the nearest hospital unlikely to be able to treat her needs
Lindsey Vonn crashed out during the women’s downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics(Image: AP)
An update has been released on the condition of Winter Olympics legend Lindsey Vonn after her terrifying crash during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final. Due to the severity of her injuries, the nearest hospital may not be equipped to provide the necessary treatment.
Vonn was airlifted to a hospital after crashing out of the competition near the top of the course, shocking the watching crowd into silence.
Her participation in the games had been uncertain after she tore the ACL in her left knee in another crash just days before the event began. However, she made a remarkable recovery, completing training runs in the lead-up to the final.
The 41-year-old was competing with the injury and wearing a knee brace.
As the 13th competitor down the mountain, Vonn’s run was cut short when she came off early, prompting a 20-minute delay in the competition while she received medical attention. Her cries of pain were audible during this time, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on BBC just before midday, former British skier Chemmy Alcott, visibly emotional about the incident, said: “I was just speaking to Enrica Cipriani who is part of the ‘Team Vonn’, actually one of the photos I think I sent you guys was one of her sitting on the chair lift with Lindsey this morning when we all thought this was going to end in a fairytale..
“She said the good news is that Lindsey Vonn’s doctor, who did her knee, was here on the hill and was able to get in that helicopter with her.
“They are currently in Cortina, the helicopter landed. But she won’t be going to the local hospital, it can’t deliver on what she needs. Likely she’ll be going over to Innsbruck.
“But even Enrica didn’t have an update, very hard to be part of that team who have sacrificed everything. Her husband Chris Knight is Lindsey Vonn’s coach, so she’s just trying to keep it together and deal with what can be handled.”
Shortly after Vonn’s accident, Andorra’s Cande Moreno also had a crash. She received medical attention before being airlifted from the mountain by helicopter.
The competition wrapped up with Vonn’s American colleague Breezy Johnson leading the pack, followed by Germany’s Emma Aicher in second place and Italy’s Sofia Goggia in third.
Vonn initially retired from the sport in 2019 following a slew of injuries but, after undergoing a partial knee replacement in April 2024, she returned to competition in December of that year.
She had won two World Cup events this season and been among the favourites for the downhill before her fall in Switzerland.
Vonn had successfully completed two practice runs on the Cortina course on Friday and Saturday, wearing a brace on her injured knee, and her coach Aksel Lund Svindal felt she was in “good enough” condition to challenge for a medal.
